US News
Obama outlines Iraq troop withdrawal strategy
By Rich Bowden Sep 13, 2007, 11:12 GMT
US Senator Barack Obama (Democrat- Illinois) directs questions to Commander of coalition forces in Iraq US Army General David Petraeus and US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker during a hearing held by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., USA, 11 September 2007. Petraeus and Crocker testified about the current state of Iraq. EPA/MELISSA GOLDEN
Clinton, U.S. (M&C) - Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has outlined his strategy for withdrawal of American forces in Iraq. Speaking at Ashford University in Iowa Thursday, Obama said he would withdraw all combat brigades by the end of next year whilst leaving in place an unspecified smaller force to protect U.S. interests.
“What’s at stake is bigger than this war: it’s our global leadership,” Mr. Obama said. “Now is a time to be bold. We must not stay the course or take the conventional path because the other course is unknown.”
The Illinois senator used the speech to highlight the differences between himself, who never supported involvement in the war and his other Democratic party presidential contenders Hilary Clinton and John Edwards -- both of whom voted to give President George Bush the authority to invade Iraq.
Speaking one day after the controversial Iraq progress report was delivered to Congress by Gen. David Petraeus, Obama said, “The best way to protect our security and to pressure Iraq’s leaders to resolve their civil war is to immediately begin to remove our combat troops,” Mr. Obama said. “Not in six months or one year — now.”
Michael Semler, professor of political science at Cal State Sacramento, described the speech to the San Francisco Chronicle as bold and said Obama was "trying to position himself as the first Democrat to make a detailed policy statement" in response to the Petraeus report.
"He's forcing other Democrats to follow him, and respond to him," Semler added.
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Older Talkback
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Leaving 'unspecified smaller force to protect U.S. interests'
Er!...that would be nothing to do with Oil...?
LOL.
SP4, your stupidity (to believe all you list) is amazing to me. Do you guys over there just let it flow without facts (and don't give me the Rush Limbaugh/Fox news facts). Must be nice to live the lie without a thought of all the people this administration has killed, including almost 4000 troops, without telling the truth one time. Keep eating the mushrooms and drinking the coolaid.
RE:'“Now is a time to be bold. We must not stay the course or take the conventional path because the other course is unknown.”'
How does one take an 'unknown' course? Surely Senator Obama knows what course he wants to take, or does he propose to wander aimlessly?
The truth is, General Patraeus has brought the insurgents to heel and is now in the process of pulling Iraq back together. I don't think a President Obama would begin an immediate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq because it would be a truly insane thing to do.
Iraq is badly broken. We broke it. We are the ones who must fix it. This is an American problem and it rightly gets charged on our tab.
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SP4: Absolutely!Sep 13th, 2007 - 14:45:00
Couldn't agree more! Global leadership! Let's stroll through memory lane:
1990's - Clinton completes empty accord with N. Korea - 2000 Bush cleans up mess.
1990's - Clinton mouths about Iraq, but does nothing - 2000 Bush takes out garbage
1990's - Clinton has Bin Laden on a PLATTER and let's him go. -2000 Bush noow has to hunt him, after disasterous 9/11 attack that could have been foiled with one move.
1990's - endless shenanigans by Libya - 2000 Bush gets them to roll over on nuke program.
You know, I'm beginning to like this guy! Who do you think he REALLY is like, Bush or Clinton?
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